Offaly TD 'accepts' party decision in Euro election race

OFFALY TD Barry Cowen has said he accepts the decision of Fianna Fail to add two more candidates to the party ticket for Midlands North West in the June European Parliament elections.

The shock move by the party to run three candidates in the sprawling five-seater came a month after a selection convention in Mullingar picked Deputy Cowen ahead of two party senators, Lisa Chamber, Mayo and Niall Blaney, Donegal.

Fianna Fail has not held a seat in the Midlands North West European Parliament constituency since Donegal man Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher lost out in 2014.

While it was anticipated that Fianna Fail would add a second candidate to give geographical balance to voters, the party was not expected to put three on the ballot paper.

Reacting to the enlarged line-up, Deputy Cowen said: “I was delighted to be selected by the Fianna Fail members at our recent convention and will now lead out our team in the campaign. The team now has a candidate in Connacht, Ulster and Leinster in this vast constituency..

“My priorities will concentrate on the transition to sustainability in food, farming and agriculture and the transition to sustainability in energy. I want to ensure that the ongoing transition rewards participants rather than merely covering the costs involved in order to maintain and enhance the rural economies' contribution to our success.

“I’ll also champion a pan-European project that builds on the ambition associated with west coasts offshore wind potential. This can deliver energy security for our region and country and also contribute up to €300 billion to our economy by 2050.

"It is imperative that we protect our tax regime in Europe. Global tax rate provisions entered into by Europe must be reciprocal on the part of likes of China and USA. Failure to ensure this is a threat to the record jobs growth, export successes and revenue receipts which this country can ill afford. It is those revenues that determine our ability as a nation to respond to housing, health, education, infrastructure amongst other demands of government.

“Events over the last European Parliament term alone has proven that Europe matters. The manner in which Europe united and responded to Brexit, Covid and the Ukraine war has proven this.

“Our candidates are united and committed to improving our regions' representation in Brussels. In Leinster, I’ll be seeking support for my candidacy and encouraging transfers for my colleagues as they will also in Connacht and Ulster. It is that strategy, that commitment that we hope the electorate will support and thus improve and enhance our regions and country’s return from Europe.

“We must remedy the failure of Fianna Fáil to secure an MEP in this constituency in 2014 and 2019 despite having had enough votes to do so. I hope now to ensure this strategy, geography and transfers secures that elusive representation and proves successful on voting day.”

At the selection convention Deputy Cowen received nearly 900 votes on the first count, putting him ahead of Senator Blaney, who was reported to be on 803, with Senator Chambers trailing behind on 570.

Senator Chambers was then eliminated and Senator Blaney closed the gap slightly, getting 268 transfers compared to Deputy Cowen's 248, but the Offaly man remained on top in the final count.

Commenting on the addition of the two candidates this week, Fianna Fail's director of elections, Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, said: "This is a very strong, ambitious ticket and represents the best of what Fianna Fáil offers, in the form of three highly committed, hard-working and able public representatives who are determined to fight for Ireland in Europe.

"This is also a very geographically well-balanced ticket, with the candidates strategically spread across a vast geographic constituency. Niall, Lisa and Barry bring unique and complimentary strengths and abilities to our ticket. I know they will individually and collectively work hard to maximise our vote and ensure that we are successful in June.

"I look forward to working with them as we bring our message of how much Europe matters to the people and communities of Midlands North West."

The Midlands North West constituency, which was formerly a four-seater and has been enlarged this year with the addition of Offaly and Laois, is currently represented by Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Roscommon (Independent), Chris MacManus, Sligo (Sinn Féin), and Colum Markey (Louth) and Maria Walsh, Mayo (both Fine Gael).

Mr Markey replaced Mairead McGuinness after she was appointed an EU commissioner and Mr MacManus replaced the MEP elected for Sinn Fein at the last poll in 2019, Matt Carthy, after he won a seat in the Dail in 2020.

Michelle Gildernew MP to run in the Midlands North West European constituency.

Mr MacManus has been joined on the Sinn Fein ticket by Michelle Gildernew, an MPfor the Westminster Fermanagh-South Tyrone constituency.

Midlands North West comprises Offaly, Laois, Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

Former Kildare North TD Frank O’Rourke has been appointed campaign manager for Deputy Cowen’s campaign.

“I have been a campaign manager in the past so I am aware of the effort that is required for this role. As a former TD for Kildare and a former member of Kildare Co Co, I am aware of the many issues that can affect our people and our constituency. The EU has become an important influencer in all our lives, and it is important that we have someone of the strength and calibre of Barry Cowen in the EU looking after our interests,” said Mr O'Rourke.

“Fianna Fáil has a strong, ambitious and balanced team in Barry Cowen, Lisa Chambers and Niall Blaney. All three are determined to fight for Ireland in Europe and I am looking forward to managing Barry’s campaign between now and June. Barry has already been campaigning in Kildare and he has received a very warm reception.

“We will work as hard as we can to ensure Fianna Fáil wins back a seat in the Midlands-North-West and more importantly that we deliver on the issues that are important for the people,” concluded the Kildare man.